Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a work of literature that remains popular and impactful generation after generation. It is a timeless piece, or so literary ‘experts’ allege. If Hamlet is as timeless as we like to believe, how does it hold up against modern literature such as 50 Shades of Grey with its theme of sexism and abuse?
In 50 Shades of Grey, the story follows a young girl, Anastasia Steele, who ends up falling for an extremely dangerous man and landing herself in an incredibly toxic relationship. The relationship develops when Anastasia fills in for her best friend to interview 27 year old billionaire entrepreneur and owner of Grey Enterprises, Christian Grey. As Grey later explains in the book, her timid energy and introvertness came off to him as ‘Submissive’ tendencies. After their innuendo-filled interview, Grey later shows up at Anastasia’s work with some suggestive purchases such as rope and masking tape, only after promising they were not for redecorating reasons. After more ‘accidental’ meetings, Anastasia finds out that Christian has a set of very interesting extra-curricular activities. This is implied first in the interview when Anastasia asks him if he has any interests outside of his work life, and his response was “I have varied interests, Miss Steele… Very varied,” followed by a wicked grin.
In this book, the line between sex and abuse is very fine, and the feel of sexism hangs thick in the air. For the two unexpected partners, these ideals hardly differ and they overlap greatly. This is due to Grey’s explanation to Ana that he is something called a ‘Dominant.’ The definition of this term is as follows: “Exercising the most power, control, or influence.’ This definition is very by the book, but also very similar to Grey’s own implication during their interview when Ana accuses Grey of being a ‘control freak.’ To which he responds suggestively, “Oh, I exercise control in all things, Miss Steele.” This is where the abusive implications first show themselves. Later in the book he finds pleasure in ‘punishing’ Anastasia for not doing exactly as he says, and being very rough while taking her to bed. He tells Ana that he wants her to want to do everything he wants, and that if she doesn’t like it she will learn to like it. With enough punishment and ‘training,’ he says she will soon be exactly who he needs her to be. One example of this is when Grey became infuriated by Ana rolling her eyes at him. At this point, he takes her over his knee and spanks her repeatedly. Anastasia is left sobbing at the end of the night, and Kate, her best friend and roommate, is left furious with Grey, without knowing exactly what happened.
Another method of remaining completely in control is the configuration of two contracts that Grey has for Ana to sign. The first one that she signs almost immediately is a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This enforces that she will not tell a single living soul about anything to do with their relationship, without some form of court ordered punishment. The second, more immaculate contract, states that in agreeing to be Grey’s ‘submissive,’ Ana will do anything and everything he wants, pertaining to sexual need, without complaint or grudge. This part of the book lets the sexism shine bright and in your face. Grey expresses to Anastasia that as his Submissive, she would not need to think about anything. She would simply do as he says, eat what he says to eat, and exercise as often as he sees fit. In the contract, it states that she is to exercise four times a week for an hour each, and eat three meals a day with snacking allowed only if it is fruit. This part shows clearly that Grey believes a woman should look and act a certain way, and that he intends to make her that way. He never gives her any choice in anything regarding her own life decisions. For instance, Ana drove a beat up VW beetle that Christian believed to be dangerous. Although Ana insisted she loved the car and didn’t want to give ‘Wanda’ up, he bought her a new car and had Taylor, his right hand man, sell her beetle. Despite her frustration and despair towards him and her car, he did not act as though he cared at all; women are supposed to do as they are told and that is it. End of story.
Anastasia begins to realize that Grey might not be the man for her. Despite this realization, she can’t seem to get away from him. She refers to herself as Icarus flying too close to the sun, and a moth to a flame. She is uncontrollably attracted to this man, but getting burnt in the process. Her feelings surrounding this idea are shown beautifully in the following quote: “The candle flame is too hot. It flickers and dances in the over-warm breeze, a breeze that brings no respite from the heat. Soft gossamer wings flutter to and fro in the dark, sprinkling dusty scales in the circle of light. I’m struggling to resist, but I’m drawn. And then it’s so bright, and I am flying too close to the sun, dazzled by the light, fried and melting from the heat, weary in my endeavors to stay airborne. I am so warm. The heat… It’s stifling, overpowering. It wakes me.”
Shakespeare’s Hamlet was set in the early 1600s (17th century). In this era, women held little to no power whatsoever. Women had the ‘privilege’ of learning basic reading and writing, but were not permitted to extend their knowledge past that. After reaching the extent of their education, women were trained to be mothers and housewives. In addition to this, not only did women have no stand when it came to politics and governmental policies, it was also frowned upon for a woman to have been divorced. If she had divorced a man, she would then be looked down upon and stripped of her right to own any form of real estate. In this time frame, there were no women’s rights, careers besides being wife and mother, and/or any form of birth control. Women were not held to the same standard as men.
Throughout the play, there is a motif of uncontrollable sexism. This is shown in many quotes throughout the play.
Hamlet: “It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a woman.” This quote is indicating that such a problem means little to a man, and so the only people who would care at all would be a woman. It is so silly, that only women would be troubled.
Claudius: “tis unmanly grief.” This quote for the most part speaks for itself. The men in this play believe that any form of grief, or a grief long lasting, is unmanly, or, womanly. This is quote is when Claudius is talking to his wife about the unnaturally long lasting grief that Hamlet is still in for the loss of his father. Claudius and Gertrude believe that Hamlet should have long since been over his father’s death.
A good amount of Hamlet’s distaste and distrust for women is directed towards his mother, Gertrude. He begins to hate her because he feels it is dishonorable to remarry so soon after the death of your husband, and he is disgusted at her incestuous marry. Hamlet finds it disgraceful that Gertrude married her late husband’s brother, Claudius. Who, incidentally, proving Hamlet’s intuitions correct; murdered Hamlet’s father, the king. Hamlet’s infuriation is shown clearly through the way he speaks to his mother. There are a few quotes that show it the best, and they are as follows.
“Frailty, thy name is ‘woman’!” In this quote, Hamlet is expressing that women are frail and weak, incapable of things simple to a man.
“O shame, where is thy blush?” This quote shows Hamlet’s humor, despite his despair. Women are good for few things. Their beauty, their suffering, and their mothering.
“My most seeming-virtuous queen.” This quote means that the queen is faking morality of the highest fashion. Hamlet believes that she is not one for high-minded virtues, nor is she an upstanding citizen. At least, not any longer.
Ophelia, the second woman in the play, is as well a target for unending sexism. However, with Ophelia, it comes from not only Hamlet, but from her father and brother as well. “Protection is the oldest form of sexism.” Ophelia’s brother and father, Laertes and Polonius both give her grave warnings to stay away from Hamlet. Shortly before Laertes leaves for France, he speaks with his sister and strongly cautions her against letting her guard down around Hamlet and giving away her heart. He points out to Ophelia that Hamlet, being a prince, would not be able to marry whomever he pleases. Laertes assumes that Hamlet’s love is not real, as does Polonius. However, Polonius’ sexism is more severe than that of Hamlet and Laertes. He dismisses the very idea that Hamlet could ever truly love Ophelia. He calls her a “childish fool” for believing his advances and efforts are true. Polonius also threatens Ophelia that she will tarnish the family name and “render me (Polonius) a fool” if she does not terminate this “relationship” with Hamlet right away. Polonius’ sexism rings clear when speaking to Ophelia about her being unsure of what to think or how to feel, to which he replies “Marry, I’ll teach you. Think yourself a baby.” Here, Polonius is saying that she, being a woman, needs not to think on her own. She should only think what she is told to think, and do what she is told to do.
Throughout all of the ‘protecting’ the men do for Ophelia against Hamlet, in demanding his feelings are not true and he is out to take advantage of her, not once are her own feelings considered. Not once do they ask Ophelia if she even likes Hamlet. They assume, that as a woman, she would let any man with an interest court her. They focus more on making her disbelieve Hamlet’s words and feelings, rather than giving a second thought to her own.
Even Hamlet is caught, subtly, protecting the fair Ophelia. This is shown deeply through the quote; “God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another. You jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God’s creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, I’ll no more on’t. It hath made me mad. I say we will have no more marriages. Those that are married already –all but one– shall live. The rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go”
He insists she go to a nunnery because he wants to protect her. He does not believe in marriage, and since he will forever refuse to marry, he does not want her to marry any other man. At a nunnery a woman may not marry or be under influence of any man. This, to him, is a gesture of protection. Hamlet may feel that Ophelia being in this nunnery would protect her from the dangers and hardship of this world.The men in Ophelia’s life are ostensibly intending to protect her, but instead end up controlling, abusing and degrading her.
Hamlet and 50 Shades of Grey differ in many ways, and relate in few. One of the biggest differences it the time. 50 Shades is set modernly, and is based around problems of today, whereas Hamlet is based in the 17th century and formed by the ideals of that era. This being said, one might claim that Hamlet has every right to be as sexist as it is. That is simply the way things worked in the 1600s, and it was all very normal. Women did not necessarily feel oppressed, because oppression was not a concept thrown around, and women were used to the way they were treated. 50 Shades being set as modern as it is, women have come a long way. Women can vote, work for a living, divorce as they see fit, and live their lives how they wish. This being the case, the story of Anastasia and Christian Grey stands out boldly among other ‘love’ stories. It is not conventional, not anymore.
The two are similar in the way the females are portrayed. Women are deemed weak, and incapable to think for themselves. This shows up in both stories. In Hamlet, Polonius tells Ophelia he will teach her what to think, and that she should think of herself as a small child. In 50 Shades, Grey tells Ana that if she were to be his ‘Submissive,’ she would have no use for free thinking. Christian decides that he will make all of Ana’s decisions for her. Both stories also have verisimilitude in the fact that both are not based off of true events, but they are realistic enough that we could believe them to have happened.
Despite Hamlet’s being written as far back as the 17th century, it holds up well to a modern story such as 50 Shades of Grey. They both have similar themes of sexism, however Hamlet’s is more or less justified. Nobody questions why the men in Shakespeare’s play are sexist, they simply accept that they are, because it is a conventional way of life in the 1600s. The story of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey is controversial and has caused, for lack of a better word, uproars in the reading community. In this day and age, treating a woman the way Grey treats his is plain and simply abusive, and even a little mentally unstable. Would their story had been true, and had people known about it, Mr. Grey would almost definitely be mobbed out of town, or thrown in jail. The points made in this paper prove that, without a doubt, Hamlet is able to hold its own when it comes to literary battles.
annamaesday 